MLB Odds: Phillies-Nationals With Plenty on the Line

If the Washington Nationals (62-63, minus-24.86 betting units) are going to have any shot at winning the National League East, they’d better put up a good fight this week against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies (68-56, plus-10.56 units). Game 3 of this three-game set is Thursday at 1:05 PM ET on the MLB Network.


While the Phillies are battling the Atlanta Braves for first place in the division, the Nationals enter this series another 6.5 games behind, even though they have a plus-59 run differential on the season to Philadelphia’s plus-8. Runs should be hard to come by for both teams; Max Scherzer (2.11 ERA) is due to start Thursday for the Nats opposite Aaron Nola (2.24 ERA) in a battle of Cy Young contenders.

As dominant as Scherzer has been this season, big chalk has limited him to 1.98 units in earnings on a team record of 18-8. Nola, on the other hand, is sixth on the MLB money list at plus-10.39 units on a nearly identical record of 18-7, with the UNDER checking in at 17-6-2. Unfortunately for the Nats, their injury-thinned bullpen is one of the worst in baseball, while the Phillies have provided their starters ample relief.

MLB Odds: Cy Young Showdown in Phils-Nats

The top Cy Young Award contenders in the National League will meet this Thursday when Max Scherzer and the Washington Nationals (62-63, minus-24.86 betting units) host Aaron Nola and the Philadelphia Phillies (68-56, plus-10.56 units) in an important NL East battle. MLB Network has the coverage at 1:05 PM ET.



Scherzer (2.11 ERA) is considered the favorite to win the NL Cy Young for the third straight year; he has the Nationals up 1.98 units on a team record of 18-8, while the Phillies are 18-7 behind Nola (2.24 ERA) for 10.39 units in earnings – sixth overall in the majors.